Tennessee lawyer Judson Phillips, leader of Tea Party Nation hosting the National Tea Party Convention this weekend in Nashville, had some straight talk for gathered reporters. Phillips didn't flinch when surrounded by media asking him if he agreed with convention speaker Tom Tancredo's remarks, that Obama was a "commited socialist ideologue."

From CNN, "Tea Party organizer; Tancredo 'Fantstic Speech'":

"The word 'socialist' is a word you don't want to be labeled with in the American political system. It's got a lot of negative connotations, but it also has a very specific political meaning. It refers to a specific political ideology. I think it is very clear that that is the political ideology of Barack Obama."

Photo of Phillips speaking at a TN Tea Party rally. Rep. Marsha Blackburn can be seen in the lower right corner.